6 Best Brooder Dividers For Separating Chicks By Age That Prevent Injuries
Safely separate different-aged chicks with the right brooder divider. We review the 6 best options designed to prevent injuries, stress, and trampling.
It happens every time you decide to stagger your hatches: a batch of fluffy, day-old chicks arrives while your three-week-olds are already starting to look like miniature dinosaurs. Mixing them seems simple, but it’s a recipe for disaster. The older, stronger chicks will inevitably bully, out-compete, and potentially injure the newcomers.
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Why Separating Chicks by Age Prevents Bullying
A brooder isn’t just a warm box; it’s a tiny, high-stakes society. Chickens establish a pecking order from a very young age, and a two-week size and strength advantage is massive. The older chicks aren’t being malicious—they’re just securing their access to food, water, and the warmest spot under the heat lamp.
This natural competition becomes dangerous when there’s a significant age gap. The smaller chicks can be trampled, kept away from the feeder until they’re weak, or pecked relentlessly. A proper divider creates two separate, stable communities within the same brooder. It allows you to manage one heat source and brooder space while giving the little ones a protected area to thrive without the constant stress and physical threat from their older siblings.
Premier 1 Panels: The Best for Custom Brooders
For those who build custom or large-scale brooders, Premier 1 panels offer unmatched flexibility. These interlocking plastic panels can be configured into nearly any shape—circles, squares, or long, straight dividing walls. Their design allows you to easily expand or shrink a section as the chicks grow.
The solid lower portion of the panels is excellent for blocking drafts, a critical feature for newly hatched chicks. The upper mesh provides ventilation, preventing moisture buildup. While they are a pricier option, their durability, ease of cleaning, and reusability make them a worthwhile long-term investment. They stack neatly for storage, a small but significant detail when you’re managing gear between seasons.
MidWest Exercise Pen: A Versatile Multi-Use Pick
Many hobby farmers already have a foldable metal exercise pen for a puppy or rabbit, and it can pull double duty as an excellent brooder divider. These pens are tall, sturdy, and can be set up in seconds. You can use the entire pen to create a large circular division or unfold a few panels to create a straight wall across a stock tank or wooden brooder.
The key consideration here is the bar spacing. For tiny day-old chicks, especially bantams, the gaps may be wide enough for them to squeeze through or get their heads stuck. A simple fix is to zip-tie a 12-inch-tall strip of cardboard or 1/4-inch hardware cloth around the bottom. This makes the pen safe for all sizes and demonstrates a core principle of hobby farming: using what you have with smart, simple modifications.
1/4-Inch Hardware Cloth: Sturdy & Reusable DIY
Hardware cloth is the go-to material for a sturdy, no-nonsense DIY divider. A roll of this galvanized wire mesh is relatively inexpensive and can be cut to fit any brooder dimension perfectly. Its rigidity means it won’t be easily pushed over by rambunctious older chicks, and the 1/4-inch grid is small enough to contain even the tiniest chicks safely.
The tradeoff for this customization is the effort required. You’ll need sturdy wire snips to cut it, and the cut edges are extremely sharp. Always file them down or cover them with duct tape to prevent injuries to both you and the chicks. Once built, however, a hardware cloth divider can be easily scrubbed clean and will last for years, making it a top choice for the practical-minded farmer.
Coroplast Sheets: A Solid, Draft-Free Divider
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Coroplast, the corrugated plastic used for yard signs, makes an excellent solid divider. Its primary advantage is that it completely blocks drafts, creating a cozy, protected zone for the youngest chicks. It also creates a visual barrier, which can reduce the stress of the older chicks seeing and trying to get to the newcomers.
This solid barrier has two important implications. First, it blocks airflow, so you must ensure your brooder has adequate ventilation elsewhere. Second, you need to be mindful of heat distribution, as it can create a warmer microclimate on one side. Coroplast is waterproof and easy to wipe down, but it can be chewed over time. It’s best secured to stakes or the brooder walls to keep it upright.
Ware Chick-N-Pen: Quick Setup for Small Batches
If you’re just adding a half-dozen new chicks to an existing batch, a small, pre-made pen is the fastest solution. The Ware Chick-N-Pen and similar products are small, circular wire pens designed for brooding. Instead of using it as a standalone brooder, you can simply place it inside your larger brooder to act as an instant, secure dividing cell.
This approach is all about convenience. There’s no cutting, no assembly, and no fuss. The main limitation is size—the chicks will outgrow it in a week or two. It serves as a perfect short-term "nursery" while the little ones get their footing before you need to give them more space.
Producer’s Pride Panels: An Accessible Option
Found at most farm supply stores, Producer’s Pride and other store-brand wire pet panels are a readily available and effective option. They function almost identically to the MidWest Exercise Pen, offering a quick way to partition a larger space. Their main benefit is accessibility; you can often pick them up the same day you get your chicks.
As with any wire pen, the most critical factor is checking the bar spacing before you buy. Bring a ruler or just use your fingers to gauge the gap. If it’s wider than a half-inch, you’ll need to plan on reinforcing the bottom with cardboard or mesh for the first week. These panels are a solid, reliable choice that gets the job done without requiring a special online order.
Safe Divider Placement and Installation Tips
Simply dropping a divider into a brooder isn’t enough. Proper installation is what prevents injuries and ensures both groups of chicks thrive. Your primary goal is to create a secure wall with no gaps and equal access to resources.
First, the divider must be completely stable. Chicks will lean and jump against it. Use zip ties, stakes, or screws to firmly attach it to the brooder walls or floor so it cannot be knocked over onto the smaller chicks. Check the entire length for gaps between the divider and the brooder walls where a chick could get trapped or squeezed.
Most importantly, analyze the environment on both sides of the divider.
- Heat: Does each side have a warm zone and a cooler zone? A divider placed directly under the center of a heat lamp can overheat one side while leaving the other too cold.
- Food and Water: Each separated group needs its own dedicated feeder and waterer. The older chicks cannot be allowed to block access for the younger ones.
- Space: Ensure both sides have enough room to move around freely. Overcrowding is a major cause of stress and illness.
For wire dividers, consider adding a temporary visual barrier like cardboard for the first few days. This can reduce the agitation of the older chicks, giving the new arrivals a calmer, safer start.
Choosing the right divider comes down to your brooder setup, budget, and how much you value convenience versus customization. Whether you buy a pre-made pen or build your own from hardware cloth, a secure, well-placed divider is one of the most effective tools for raising healthy, staggered batches of chicks with minimal stress and zero injuries.
